Dried Sulphate of Iron 20 grains
Alcoholic extract of Sumbul 20 grains
Asafoetida 10 grains
Arsenious acid 1/2 grain
Mix thoroughly and make twenty pills, one after each meal.
[288 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]
6. Tincture of hops in doses of one-half to two teaspoonfuls is good for
nervousness and sleeplessness, taken at bedtime. It can also be taken
regularly four times a day in from one-half to one teaspoonful doses.
7. General Cautions.--Proper, easily digested foods must be taken. Keep
the bowels open daily. Let trash and dainties alone. Pies, cakes, and rich
foods are an abomination for such patients. Candy is not to be eaten. Let
novels alone. Go to bed at nine and sleep until six or seven. Bathe five
or ten minutes every morning or evening in tepid water or cool water. The
patient should be warmly clothed. Sleep in a pleasant, sunshiny and airy
room. In severe forms of the disease the "Rest Cure" and feeding described
under Nervous Prostration should be used.
EPILEPSY. (Falling Sickness).--This is an affection of the nervous system,
characterized by attacks of unconsciousness, with or without convulsion.
Causes.--In a large proportion of cases the disease begins before puberty.
It rarely begins after twenty-five. It is more liable to attack females
than males. Heredity is thought by some to play a big role. Dr. Osler
says: "In our figures it appears to play a minor role." Another doctor
says: "Heredity plays an important role in the production of the disease.
Besides epilepsy, insanity, migraine, alcoholism, near relationship of
parents (consanguinity) and hysteria are among the more common ancestral
taints observed." All factors which impair the health and exhaust the
nervous system are predisposing causes. Injury to the head often causes
it. Teething, worms, adherent foreskin and clitoris, closing of the
internal opening of the womb, delayed menstruation, are sometimes the
cause.
Symptoms.--There are two distinct types. The major attacks--or "grand
mal"--in which there are severe convulsions with complete loss of
consciousness, etc.; and the minor attacks or "petit mal," in which the
convulsive movements are slight and may be absent, and in which the loss
of consciousness is often but momentary or practically absent. In some the
attacks occur during the day; in others during the night, and they may not
be noticed for a long time.
Characteristic paroxysm of the Major attacks.--This may be ushered in by a
localized sensation, known as the Aura, in some part of the body; but it
may come without any warning and suddenly. The convulsions begin suddenly
and at first are tonic, that is, it does not change but holds on. Thc
patient falls unconscious regardless of the surroundings, and the
unconsciousness may be preceded by an involuntary piercing cry. The head
is drawn back and often turned to the right. The jaws are fixed (tonic
spasm). The fingers are clenched over the thumb and the extremities are
stiff. The breathing is affected and the face looks blue. The urine and
bowel contents may escape; but this occurs oftener in the next stage. This
tonic spasm usually lasts from a few seconds to a half minute when it is
succeeded by the clonic spasm stage.
[NERVOUS SYSTEM 289]
Clonic spasm stage.--In this the contraction of the muscles is
intermittent. (Tonic spasm is the opposite condition.) At first there is
trembling, but it gradually becomes more rapid and the limbs are jerked
and patient tosses violently about. The muscles of the face are in
intermittent motion, the eyes roll, the eyelids are opened and closed
convulsively. The jaws move forcibly and strongly, and the tongue is apt
to be caught between the teeth and bitten. The blue look now gradually
decreases. A frothy saliva, which may be bloodstained from the bitten
tongue, escapes from the mouth. The urine and bowel contents may escape
involuntarily. The length of time of this stage is variable. It may last
two minutes. The contraction becomes less violent and the patient
gradually sinks into the condition of deep sleep, when the breathing is
noisy and stertorous, the face looks red and swollen, but no longer
bluish. The limbs loose their stiffness and unconsciousness is profound.
The patient, if left alone, will sleep for some hours and then awakes and
complains only of a dull headache. His mind is apt to be confused. He
remembers nothing or little of what has occurred. Afterwards the patient
may be irrational for some time and even dangerous.
The minor attack or "petit mal."--There is a convulsion; a short period of
unconsciousness, and this may come at any time, and may be accompanied by
a feeling of faintness or vertigo. Suddenly, for example, at dinner time
the person stops talking and eating, the eyes are fixed and staring and
the face is slightly pale. The patient usually drops anything he may be
holding. The consciousness returns in a moment or two and the patient
resumes conversation as if nothing had happened. In other instances there
is a slight incoherency or the patient performs some almost automatic
action. He may begin to undress himself, and on returning to consciousness
find that he has partially disrobed. He may rub his beard or face, or may
spit about in a careless way. An eminent physician states: "One of my
patients, after an attack, was in the habit of tearing anything he could
lay his hands on, particularly books; violent actions have been committed
and assaults made, frequently giving rise to questions which come before
court. In the majority of cases of "petit mal" (light attacks) convulsions
finally occur, at first slight, but ultimately the grand mal (major
attacks) becomes well developed, and the attacks may then alternate."
Recovery.--The authority above goes on to say: "This may be given today in
the words of Hippocrates: 'The prognosis in epilepsy is unfavorable when
the disease is congenital (that is, existing at birth), when it endures to
manhood, and when it occurs in a grown person without any previous cause.
The cure may be attempted in young persons but not in old.' '' Death
rarely occurs during the fit, but it may happen if the patient is eating.
If the attacks are frequent and the patient has marked mental disturbance
the conditions are unfavorable. Males have a better outlook than females.
[290 MOTHERS' REMEDIES ]
PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT.--What to do during the Attack of Epilepsy.--Keep
the patient from injuring himself, loosen the clothing, take off the
collar or anything tight about the neck. Place a cork or spool or
tooth-brush handle between the teeth to keep the patient from biting his
tongue, but attach a stout cord to the object and hold it in that way.
Preventive and general treatment.--In the case of children the parents
should be made to understand that in the great majority of cases epilepsy
is incurable. The patients need firm but kind treatment. It does not
render a person incapable of following some occupations. "Julius Caesar
and Napoleon were subjects of epilepsy." The disease causes gradual
impairment of the mind, and if such patients become extremely irritable or
show signs of violence, they should be placed under supervision in an
asylum. A person with this disease should not marry.
Diet.--Give the patient a light diet at regular hours, and the stomach
should never be overloaded. There are cases in which meat is injurious,
and it should not be eaten more than once a day and at noon time. A
vegetable diet seems best. The patient should not go to sleep until the
digestion is completed in the stomach.
Causes.--Should be removed if possible. Circumcision should be done,
especially in the young. In case of a female child the "hood of the
clitoris" should be kept free. Undue mental and physical excitement should
be avoided. Systematic exercise should be taken. Baths in cold water in
the morning, if possible, as the skin should be in good working condition.
Medicines.--The bromides are the best, and should always be given under
proper supervision of a physician or nurse.
Caution.--I wish to add that parents should always attend to the seemingly
harmless "fits" in their young children. It will not do to say they are
due to teething or worms. If they are, the worms at least can be treated
and that cause removed. They may be due to too tight opening in the penis.
If that opening is small, or if the foreskin is tight it will make the
child irritable and cause restless sleep. Attend to that immediately. The
same advice applies to female children. The "cover" of the "clitoris" may
be tight, making the little one nervous; loosen it. If your child keeps
its fingers rubbing its private organs there is reason for you to have the
parts examined and the cause removed as masturbation often starts in that
way. The parts itch and the child tries to stop the itching. These little
things often cause "big things" and I am sure "fits" can be stopped very
often by looking after the private organs in both sexes.
[NERVOUS SYSTEM 291]
SHAKING PALSY. (Paralysis Agitans).--This is a chronic affection of the
nervous system, characterized by muscular weakness, trembling and
rigidity.
Causes.--It usually occurs after the fortieth year, and is more common in
men than in women. The exciting causes are exposure to cold and wet,
business worries, anxieties, violent emotional excitement and specific
fevers.
Symptoms.--The four prominent symptoms are trembling, weakness, rigidity,
and a peculiar attitude. It generally develops gradually, usually in one
or the other hand. There is at first a fine trembling, beginning in the
hands or feet, gradually extending to the arms, the legs and sometimes the
whole body. The head is not involved so frequently. This trembling
(tremor) consists of rapid, uniform "shakings." At first it may come in
spells, but as the disease advances it is continuous. Any excitement makes
it worse. It is very marked in the hands. The trembling generally ceases
during sleep. The muscles become rigid and shortened; the head is bent and
the body is bent forward; the arms are flexed (bent) and the thumbs are
turned into the palms and grasped by the fingers; the legs are bent,
movement soon becomes impaired and the extremities show some stiffness in
motion. There is great weakness of the muscles and it is most marked,
where the trembling is most developed. There is no expression on the face,
and the person has a slow and measured speech. The walk is very peculiar,
and in attempting to walk the steps are short and hurried. The steps
gradually become faster and faster, while the body is bent forward and the
patient must keep on going faster to keep from falling. It is difficult to
go around in a short circle. The patient cannot change his position in bed
easily. The mind is rarely affected.
Recovery.--It is an incurable disease. It may run on for twenty years or
more. There may be times of improvement, but the tendency is to grow,
gradually worse.
PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for Shaking Palsy.--This is simply to make the
patient as comfortable as possible. Regulate the diet. The patient should
not worry or have much exercise. Frequent warm baths are sometimes
beneficial with gentle massage of the muscles.
APHASIA.--A partial or total inability to express thoughts in words or to
interpret perceptions.
Varieties.--Motor and sensory aphasia.
Causes.--Softening of the brain, tumors of the brain, lesions in syphilis
especially, hemorrhage in the brain, blows on the head, and inflammation
of the brain and its covering.
Symptoms of Motor Aphasia.--The patient cannot make the muscles of the
larynx, tongue, palate and lips perform their functions and produce
speech. The patient knows what he wishes to say, but cannot pronounce it.
This may be complete or partial. Complete, when the patient can only utter
separate sounds. Partial, when the words are only slightly mispronounced
and when some certain words cannot be pronounced at all. In some cases,
nouns only or verbs cannot be pronounced. Agraphia, means inability to
write down the thoughts. Sensory aphasia: word deafness. This is an
inability to interpret spoken language. The sound of the word is not
recognized and cannot be recalled; but sounds such as that of an engine
whistle, or an alarm clock, are heard and recognized. Word-blindness: the
person cannot interpret written language. Pharaphrasia: cannot use the
right word in continued speech; the patient uses words but misplaces them.
[292 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]
Recovery depends a great deal upon the cause.
Treatment.--Treat the cause. If from syphilis, iodide of potash and
mercury. If from an injury or tumors, operate if possible. Teach the
patient how to speak, read and write. The result of this often gives you a
pleasant surprise.
[Illustration: Hand Nerves.]
WRITERS' CRAMP. Causes.--This occurs much oftener in men than in women,
and usually between the ages of twenty-five and forty. The predisposing
causes are a nervous constitution, heredity, alcoholism, worry, etc. The
chief exciting cause,--excessive writing, especially when it is done
under a strain.
Symptoms.--It usually begins with fatigue, weight, or actual pain in the
affected muscles. In the spasm form the fingers are seized with a constant
or intermittent spasm whenever the person grasps the pen. The neuralgic
form is similar in symptoms but severe pain and fatigue comes with
writing. The tremulous form: In this the hand when used becomes the seat
of the decided tremor. The paralytic form: The chief symptoms are
excessive weakness and fatigue of the part and these disappear when the
pen is laid aside.
Recovery.--If taken in time and if the hand is allowed perfect rest, the
condition may improve rapidly. There is, however, a tendency to recur.
PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for Writers' Cramps.--There must be absolute rest of
the hand. General tonics, such as iron, strychnine, arsenic, and cod-liver
oil may be needed to tone up the system.
APOPLEXY. (Cerebral Hemorrhage). (Brain Hemorrhage). Causes.--Bleeding
(hemorrhage) into the brain substance is almost always due to an affection
of the walls of the large or small arteries of the brain, producing
rupture and subsequent bleeding. Persons of fifty or over are more subject
to it, and it is more common in men than in women. Any disease that will
cause degeneration of the arteries, helps to cause it, such as nephritis,
rheumatism, syphilis, gout and alcoholism. Nephritis is one of the most
certain causes, because arterio-sclerosis (hardening and decaying of the
walls of the arteries) and hypertrophy of the heart are associated with
nephritis, etc.
[NERVOUS SYSTEM 293]
Direct Causes.--Straining at stool, heavy lifting, anger, rage, fright,
etc.; paroxysm of whooping-cough or convulsions may cause it in children.
Symptoms.--Sometimes the patient experiences headache, dizziness, paleness
or flushing of the face, fullness in the head, ringing in the ears, etc.,
temporary attacks of numbness or peculiar tingling in one-half of the
body. When the bleeding takes place there is usually loss of
consciousness. In the attack:--If the bleeding is extensive the patient
falls suddenly into coma, and this may soon prove fatal. If the bleeding
is slight at first and gradually increases, the patient is delirious at
first, then one arm, then one side, and finally the whole body may become
paralyzed, and unconsciousness, and even death may come from the paralysis
of the heart and breathing nerve centers. In many cases the patient falls
unconscious without previous warning. The face is red, the eyes injected,
the lips are blue, the pulse is full and slow, and the breathing is slow
and deep. The head and eyes may be strongly turned to the injured side.
The pupils may be unequal. The paralysis may not be noticed while the
patient is unconscious and is quiet. The urine and the bowels contents may
pass involuntarily or the urine may be retained. Sometimes when the case
is very grave the patient does not awake from his deep sleep (coma); the
pulse becomes very feeble, respiration becomes changed, mucus collects in
the throat, and death may occur in a few hours or days. In other cases the
clot in the brain is gradually absorbed, and the patient slowly returns to
consciousness. Sometimes relapses occur. In mild cases instead of deep
coma, there may be only headache, faintness, nausea and vomiting.
Subsequent Symptoms.--When the patient improves, consciousness returns,
but there remains a half-side paralysis, hemiplegia, on the side and
opposite to that of the seat of the injury in the brain. It may not take
in the whole side, only a part. The gait is peculiar. In walking the
patient supports the paralyzed arm. In many cases the paralyzed parts
gradually regain their functions in a few weeks, but not always complete.
The leg improves more than the arm. There is danger of other attacks. When
the sleep (coma) is very deep, the breathing is embarrassed, with vomiting
and prolonged half-consciousness and extension and complete paralysis,
the danger to life is great.
What can I do at once? Loosen the clothing around the neck and waist.
Raise the head and shoulders and put cold to the head (ice bag if you have
it) and warmth to the feet, legs and hands. Watch the bladder closely. The
urine must be drawn frequently in this disease, especially if there is
much paralysis. It may dribble away, but that is not enough. Look out for
bed sores, especially if the sickness is a long one.
[294 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]
APOPLEXY. 1. Mothers' Remedies, Simple yet Effective Remedy for.--"Place
the feet of the patient in hot water and mustard," This is a very simple
treatment for such a serious disease, but very often will relieve as the
hot bath will cause a reaction, take the pressure of blood from the brain
and by this means has been known to save many lives.
2. Apoplexy, Simple Injection for.-"Place dry salt on the tongue and give
an injection as follows:
Warm water 1 quart
Common salt 2 teaspoonfuls
Brandy 1/2 ounce
This injection is recommended for any kind of a shock which affects
the circulation."
The injection of the bowels will relieve the congestion by drawing the
blood away from the brain.
Medical treatment must be to regulate the diet, bowels, kidneys, and
stomach. Restore the general health.
Caution.--A person who has had an attack of this kind may have another.
The mode of life must be changed in most cases. The patient must take
things easy. The bowels, kidneys, stomach, and liver must work naturally
and the stomach must not be overloaded. Too much meat must not be eaten;
alcohol must be let alone; rich foods are prohibited. Hurry, worry, anger,
fright, excitement, etc., are bad. Be lazy, take life easy, do not get
over-heated, and sleep, sleep, SLEEP,--in a room where there is plenty of
good air. Do not lift or strain to have a passage of the bowels. Stooping
is injurious. The blood must be kept from the head. Take proper care and
you are likely to live years longer. And now you may wonder why I give
such cautions. Apoplexy is directly due to a breaking of the wall of a
blood vessel, large or small; due to a weakening, or decay, or
degeneration of the wall. This lets the blood into the substance of the
brain and presses upon the nerve centers, causing the trouble and
paralysis. Any wrong action tends to fill the blood vessels very full and
the weakened wall bursts.
PALSY. Paralysis.--A loss of movement, entire or partial, in the voluntary
muscles of the body. When this loss of power is complete it is called
paralysis; when it is not complete, paresis.
Causes.--Inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, tumors in these parts,
accidents and injuries, poisons, apoplexy, etc.
Symptoms.--The patient cannot make all the usual motions of the part. The
affected muscles may waste after a time.